When can Paul Pogba play again after the doping verdict?

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Paul Pogba, the former Manchester United midfielder and current Juventus star, is set to return to action sooner than expected after a significant reduction in his anti-doping ban.

The French World Cup winner initially faced a four-year suspension following a positive test for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a substance that boosts testosterone levels and is banned under the World Anti-Doping Code (WADA).

The incident occurred during the 2023/24 Serie A season after Juventus' victory over Udinese in August 2023. Although Pogba did not feature in that match, he was present on the bench and subsequently made substitute appearances in Juventus' fixtures against Bologna and Empoli later that month.

However, following the revelation of his positive test, Pogba was suspended in September 2023. The 31-year-old midfielder immediately requested a counter-analysis, but a second test also returned positive for DHEA, triggering an automatic four-year ban.

This ruling would have sidelined Pogba until March 2027, effectively putting his career in jeopardy. However, in a significant breakthrough for Pogba, his suspension has been dramatically reduced to 18 months.

The decision came after the player successfully proved that the substance was ingested unintentionally. Pogba's revised ban will now expire in March 2025, allowing him to return to football much earlier than initially anticipated.

Although Juventus has yet to make an official statement regarding Pogba's future, the player remains contracted with the Serie A giants until 2026.

Under the terms of the new ruling, Pogba will be permitted to rejoin training with his teammates as early as January 2025, giving him ample time to prepare for his comeback on the pitch in March 2025.

This marks a positive turn in what has been a challenging period for Pogba since rejoining Juventus in 2022 on a free transfer from Manchester United.

His return to Turin has been marred by persistent injury issues and limited playing time, with the midfielder managing just 12 appearances and 213 minutes on the field during his second stint with the Italian club.

Pogba's availability in March 2025 provides Juventus with a potential boost, as new manager Thiago Motta will have the opportunity to reintegrate the talented midfielder into the squad.

While Pogba's journey since leaving Old Trafford has been turbulent, his upcoming return offers a chance to revive his career and contribute meaningfully to Juventus' targets.